The Bishnoi are a community of nature worshippers. The guru who founded the sect directed the worship of lord Vishnu (Bishnu), hence the name Bishnoi. On one day in the year 1730, 363 Bishnoi individuals voluntarily gave up their own lives in order to spare the cutting of trees growing near their village. The first lady to resist the tree cutters said, "If a tree is saved even at the cost of one's head, it's worth it." The axe intended for the tree severed her head, the first of 363 deaths.

The Bishnoi people live mainly in Rajasthan, a dry state in India’s west.

They don’t eat meat, chop down trees or harm the local environment. Bishnoi women have been known to nurse fawns whose mothers have been killed by poachers. Western environmentalists are fascinated with their ways, so they have contact with outsiders.

Today the Bishnois worship various Hindu gods, especially Vishnu. They believe all life is sacred; to harm the environment is to harm oneself. The Bishnoi people live by 29 principles given them by Shree Guru Jambeshwar. Some of these overlap with the 10 Commandments.

The Bishnoi people need to give their hearts and minds to the God of Heaven; He alone can bring them to eternal life. They also need protection. The Bishnoi people often have conflicts with dangerous poachers.

Pray for protection for the Bishnoi people who face dangerous intruders.

Pray for Christian families to soon be found in the Bishnoi community. May they be granted the gift of faith to believe and accept the eternal life offered by Jesus Christ.

May the Bishnoi give their hearts and minds to the Creator.

Pray for relationships between loving believers and Bishnoi elders.

Scripture Prayers for the Bishnoi (Hindu traditions) in India.

http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2020/03/31

http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2012/09/20

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishnoi

https://www.anamoralesblog.com/en/bishnois-ecologists-of-the-thar-desert/